WPH Exclusive: WILL BARTON Interview

Pangos 2009: Day 2: Game 2

Here is another video of some of the Wolfpack targets playing their night game on Saturday.

Pangos 2009: Day 3: Sunday Player Updates

Day three consists of a 9am game followed by the "Cream of the Crop" top 25 and top 50 camp all star games. The All Star games were chosen by a vote from the media and featured the camps brightest stars which included each and every Wolfpack Target. Here's a run down of what went down on day 3 (video will be up later tonight):

Ryan Harrow, 2010 Commit, PG:
Sunday marked the return of Ryan Harrow. Looking refreshed and eager to impress, Ryan got back to being Ryan. He had the hot hand early as he came out firing and connecting on three straight 3 pointers. As the confidence built, the highlights started to flow. Ryan was wowing the crowd with his patented crossover and floater as he dropped 15 points. Later in the top 25 "Cream of the Crop" game Ryan went head to head with Joe Jackson (5 star PG) and dropped 7 points on the physical guard in limited minutes. It was a great match-up as both were going hard at each other. Jackson ended with the better stats, but Ryan was forced to leave early because of a flight he had to catch. Harrow and Jackson are two of the better point men we've seen this year and they showed why.

Luke Cothron, 2010 Recruit, PF/C
On Sunday Luke was cursed by a case of not getting the ball. In a game that was completely controlled by guards (and Quincy Miller posing as a guard), Luke never really got involved and was held to 2 points. In the top 25 "Cream of the Crop" game it was more of the same for Luke and although Ryan made a conscience effort to get him the ball, Luke was held to only 2 points. However, this did not change anyones opinion of the big time big man, who had a quality camp and really showed extreme improvement this weekend. Cothron solidified his ranking amongst the nations elite.

Will Barton, 2010 Recruit, SG:
Big Will did some SERIOUS work in the top 25 "Cream of the Crop" game as he dropped what we counted as 21 points. When Barton gets going, there's nobody who's going to stop him. In the paint, beyond the arc, above the rim...you name it, Will can do it and do it against the top players in the country.

Mychal Parker, 2010 Recruit, Wing:
Mychal played well on Sunday as he continued to play aggressive. His shot wasn't falling like it usually does this weekend but that didn't stop Parker from doing what he does. In the top 25 "Cream of the Crop" game Mychal produced when he got the ball, which wasn't very often. He ended with 6 points and 5 assists and as usual, looked impressive when he got aggressive.

Quincy Miller, 2011 Target, PF:
Quincy opened up a lot of eyes on Sunday when he went for over 20 points using his expansive skill set. He showed a great deal of maturity and while he's only 15 years old, he doesn't mind being a vocal leader on the court. There was simply no answer for the inside/outside attack of Miller. He is a rare commodity, standing at 6'9 and being able to comfortably attack off the dribble and drain jumpers with his smooth stroke. Quincy reminds us of a young, more polished, slightly less athletic version of CJ Leslie.

Dezmine Wells, 2011 Target, Guard:
The Dezmine Wells party continued during the top 50 "Cream of the Crop" game where the physicality and athleticism of Wells was the difference. Highlighted by a viscous up and under dunk, Dezmine showed the passion and basketball IQ that has scouts raving about him as one of the breakout players at this years Pangos camp. His size alone allows him to manhandle smaller guards and his quicks and visions help him compete against other guards near his size.

Pangos: Day 2: Player Updates

Ryan Harrow #7, Mychal Parker #88, Luke Cothron #99, Quincy Miller #105
Sorry for the delay on the updates guys! It's crazy out here and we don't want you to miss a thing, which is why we barely had any time to post. Now that the camp has finished we are at the hotel and we'll be here all night bringing you the most complete coverage of Pangos that you'll find. Here is your Saturday game recap, player by player (we'll have stats later):

**The camp director switched the teams around after the first night and caused quite a stir. Ryan, Mychal, and Luke all were separated until day 3 when Ryan and Luke got to play together. The players were very disappointed. They understood that WPH came all the way in Cali to see them play together. However, all 3 were inseparable all weekend long and had some good things to say about NC State. (All of which you'll hear for yourself in the upcoming interviews.)

Ryan Harrow, 2010 NC State Commit, PG:
Ryan didn't have his best outing on Saturday as weekend after weekend of basketball may seem to be catching up with the 5 star NC State commit. Ryan was not as aggressive, but was also visibly frustrated at the style of game his team was playing. The game was completely run and gun and Ryan's team seemed to be the one with the most "wanna be" point guards. Ryan still got his (10 points), had a few highlights and still was one of the best guards on the court, but all in all this was not one of Ryan's better days. I was talking with Dave Telep who acknowledged that Ryan's legs looked tired and could certainly use a weekend off. That weekend off is something Ryan won't be getting anytime soon as he's scheduled to be playing all over the world in the next month (yes, I said world). Ryan will be soon heading over to France with the Adidas National Team.

Luke Cothron, NC State Recruit, PF/C
For us Saturday was Luke's coming out party. He is visibly stronger and more aggressive than we've seen him in the past. He was a monster in the paint all day long, making the opposing bigs look like children. He's starting to turn it up a notch and it's pretty apparent as you watch what used to be layups for Luke, now are aggressive dunks. Luke is really starting to learn how to use his size and get great position on the blocks. Although every now and then he gets complacent and goes up too soft, it's happening less and less. Numerous times Luke caught the ball on the block and imposed his will against anyone in his way. He was extremely effective on Friday night against a guy who many feel is the #1 player in the nation, Harrison Barnes. That play carried over to Saturday where Cothron started to demand the ball and finish on command as he went "and 1" crazy, finishing three old fashion 3 point plays. The more we see of Luke the more we see why he's such a top target for the Pack. He's been running the floor extremely well here at Pangos and turning a lot of heads at a camp that isn't usually too friendly to big men due to the up and down pace set by the nations elite guards. According to Luke, he has recently been working out with a personal trainer in order to build his body up for the next level and it's definitely starting to pay off.

Mychal Parker, 2010 Recruit, Wing:
Mychal finally decided to give us something on Saturday as he found a little aggressive streak in the afternoon. Parker can really do it all and just needs to bring it on a consistent basis if he wants to shoot up the rankings even higher. Mychal is a great, well spoken, and extremely funny kid who really fits better in a team first type atmosphere. Something that Pangos just doesn't offer. On Saturday we got to see a much more complete version of Mychal's game. He was a lot more physical when he brought it to the blocks but also was stepping out and popping a few silky jumpers for good measure. We especially liked to see him invite contact like he did when he drove the lane and attempted to throw down over top an opposing wing. Although he missed the dunk it was good to see that he has that inside him. He is very capable on the break and just has a really high ceiling. If he can get stronger and force the issue a bit more, there is no telling how good this kid could be.


Will Barton, 2010 Recruit, SG:
Although not 100% into it for the first game Saturday, Will continued his Pango's dominance in the night cap. This kid is probably the best prospect we've seen in the 2010 class. There's nothing he can't do. He's quick, shifty, athletic and can really stroke it from deep. Add to that, an incredibly charismatic personality and hard work, and you've got yourself the total package. He'll need to put on more weight to dominate, but he's college ready right now. On Saturday Barton was killing people with ankle buckling crossovers (which I know all too well), knifing drives to the basket and thunderous finished above the rim (often followed by a crazy eyed stare into the crowd). I don't care what any of the analysts say, and many may not agree, but Harrison Barnes (#1 overall player) is good, but he's not as good as Barton.



Dezmine Wells, 2011 Target, Guard:
You probably aren't too familiar with the 2011 guard from Word of God, but Dezmine Wells is out to change that. With an extremely solid effort at Bob Gibbons and a outstanding Saturday at Pangos, the scouts are starting to take a closer look at Wells. He's built like a linebacker but handles the ball like a point guard. On Saturday Dez was showcasing his athleticism with hard, aggressive drives to the hoop and thunderous finishes above the rim. There's not a kid in the 2011 class that has more of a college ready body than Wells, and he knows how to use it. He still hasn't honed his jumpshot, but when he does, there will be not one school out there that wouldn't love to have this kid in their back court. Throw in the fact that he let us know that he "really likes State" and Dezmine Wells certainly becomes one to watch. Often overshadowed by the plethora of talent at Word of God, Dez is way under the radar at this point and any school that comes calling is a smart one. A few scouts we talked to were really seeing Wells for the first time and were almost unanimously impressed.


Quincy Miller, 2011 Target, PF: (NEW NAME ALERT)
A 2011 prospect who very well could re-classify to become 2012 eligible (he's only 15) is not a brand new name on the scene but is one that is starting to build some buzz. Miller, from Winston-Salem, is a 6'9 forward who can do it all. A quick first step, solid moves in the post, an accurate jumper that extends to the 3 point line, and the ability to rise and flush on anyone that comes in his way. We are extremely high on Quincey, who we first saw at the Boo Williams tournament a few months ago. He is an absolute talent who will be holding offers from every big college in the nation and it just so happens that according to Quincy, NC State has shown some early interest. Miller will likely be a big time target for the Pack in the coming years so we wanted to give you the chance to get to know him now.


***We are currently working on the Day 2 video, as well as Day 3 Updates and video. We got a new "Where are they Now" that no Wolfpack fan will want to miss, as well as some "dunk session" video and tons of interviews. Stay tuned.

Pangos: Day 2: Ball Handling Drills

Yesterday afternoon before the games began there was another skill drill session in which they worked on ball handling. In this video you will see Ryan Harrow, Mychal Parker, Luke Cothron, Dezmine Wells and Will Barton doing single hand work, along with crossover drills in front and behind the back.

PANGOS 2009: Day 1: Wolfpack Targets Highlight Reel

Ryan Harrow #7, Mychal Parker #88, Luke Cothron #99, Will Barton #69
In this camp players are split up into 12 teams and each team is given the team name of an ACC School. NC State commit Ryan Harrow and recruit Mychal Parker are both on Team Maryland. Unfortunately, Luke Cothron, who had told us he would be playing with Ryan and Mychal was placed on a different team. Luke arrived late due to transportation difficulties, which may be the reason for the team change. Either way, we will continue to cover all of them throughout the weekend along with some others.

Team Maryland (Harrow/Parker) is probably the most talented team at the camp sporting 3 top 30 players in Ryan, Mychal and 6'4 SG Andre Dawkins, who is committed to Duke and Terrence Jones a 4 star 6'8 PF. Unfortunately as we all know sometimes the most talented team isn't always victorious, and such was the case last night when they ran up against Melvin Tabb (Wake Forest), Ricky Scott (4 star SG), and rising star Pe'Shon Howard of Oak Hill. Team Maryland (Harrow/Parker) cut what was a 10 point lead, to five in the closing seconds as Harrow got hot, but an in and out 3 pointer from Ryan ended their comeback bid.

Ryan Harrrow: as usual played "consistently great" and had the crowd really starting to talk. Ever since he got that fifth star people began to watch him closer and realized what we all have known for quite some time. He is really on the verge of blowing up and we are very excited about it. Ryan ended with 11 points and around 4 assists, which is good considering that you only play about half the game and you are sharing the ball with Andre Dawkins and Terrence Jones, 2 guys that haven't seen a shot they didn't like. What really starting to stand out is Ryan's court vision. Ever since Dave Telep mentioned the need for Ryan to showcase his passing, it seems he's taken it to heart and making sure that everyone in the gym knows he can dish it. Harrow sees holes that don't even appear to be there and threads the needle with precision. Not many players out there can produce at the level this kid produces, but the fact that his production is so
consistent is what makes him really special.

Mychal Parker: Parker really impressed us. He's not flashy or isn't some sort of human highlight reel, but the kid can flat out play. He is the epitome of any all around player. He handles the ball much better than I expected, has a textbook jumper with great arc and rotation, and can finish in the paint. Mychal will need to work on his strength, but with a frame like his there is not much doubt that he will eventually fill out. Mychal finished with 4 points and never really got it going, but again, unless you are out there getting trigger happy, you're not going to put up a great deal of points in this event. Mychal is a team first type guy with a great sense of humor and a very high ceiling.

Luke Cothron: As we mentioned earlier, Luke arrived late and was placed on a different team, but that did not stop him from doing exactly what he does. Luke is an "And 1" machine. This guy is long, physical and relentless under the rim. What stands out the most with Luke is that he really knows his role. He has a nice jumper, but his game is surely more suited for the paint. He is a quiet, respectful kid on and off the court and although he works extremely hard for position on the blocks, he's not very vocal. In an event like this, if you don't ask for the ball, you don't get the ball. Regardless, Luke had around 10 points and a good deal of rebounds. We've seen Luke a lot and think he has the ceiling to be a top 10 kid in class. Working on strength and staying consistently aggressive will be the only 2 things this kid will need to work on. We like him a lot and this he'd surely be a big help to the Pack if he were to pick Raleigh.

Will Barton: Will is a straight up monster talent. There is just no other way to put it. This kid has some serious NBA potential. Although he's thin, he is as athletic as they come and has a juicy stroke from deep. Give him the ball and just let him work. He carries himself a lot like Julius Hodge on the court, but that is where the comparison ends. Our man Jules had no where near the rise of Barton, who is very deserving of that #1 shooting guard ranking he carries. Word around Barton is that he has a Kentucky lean, but he swears he's wide open. We'll catch up with him later and see what he has to say about that. Larry Harris has made contact on Barton and I say do whatever you can to land this kid because a talent like him is extremely rare to find.

Introducing 2010 Recruit: WILL BARTON

We mentioned earlier that we've received word that NC State is targeting a new, highly touted, player in the 2010 class. His name is Will Barton and he is a high energy 6'6 shooting guard who can do it all. He is long, quick and has a silky stroke from long range. Barton hails from Baltimore Md and has impressed enough scouts to be ranked as a 5 star prospect and the #1 shooting guard in his class. He holds an offer from the Pack and lists them as one of the schools he is considering. Here is a quick glimpse of the 2010 super star:

Barton and Parker Shine in the I-95 Elite Challenge

On Saturday night, Will Barton and Mychal Parker, two 2010 Pack targets played against one another in the I-95 Elite Challenge at St. Frances Academy. Barton represented the Baltimore team and Parker represented the D.C. team. Will Barton brought home the MVP award with his 18 point performance that led his Baltimore squad to a crushing 104-79 victory. Will Barton might be a new name on the NC State recruiting front, but by no means is he a new name around the country. This kids is ranked by Scout as the #1 Shooting Guard in 2010 and holds offers from: Arizona, Florida, Georgetown, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Villanova, Providence, Virginia and Xavier. While it might seem a little late to be getting in the mix with Barton, Larry Harris has defied odds and logic on numerous occasions.








Mychal Parker also scored 8 points for the D.C. team. Matt Bracken of the Baltimore Sun got to catch up with Mychal Parker after the game and Parker told him that he was considering the following schools: Miami, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson, N.C. State and Arkansas.





Here is a breakdown of who these two studs were playing with and against:

2010 Baltimore Team
Roscoe Smith - SF - 5 Stars - Uncommitted
C.J. Fair - SF - 4 Stars - Committed to Syracuse
Will Barton - SG - 5 Stars - Uncommitted
Ryley Beaumont - SF - 2 Stars - Uncommitted
Dante Holmes - SG - 2 Stars - Uncommitted
Wayne Sparrow - SG - 2 Stars - Committed to Richmond
Antonio Barton - PG - 2 Stars - Uncommitted
Eric Atkins - PG - 3 Stars - Committed to Notre Dame
Cedrick Johnson - PG - 2 Stars - Uncommitted
Lakeem Duncan

2010 D.C. Team
Hippolyte Tsafack - C - 3 Stars - Uncommitted
Mychal Parker - SF - 4 Stars - Uncommitted
Terrence Ross - SG - 4 Stars - Committed to Maryland
Victor Oladipo - SG - 3 Stars - Uncommitted
Byron Allen - SG - 3 Stars - Committed to West Virginia
Tyler Thornton - PG - 4 Stars - Committed to Duke
Markel Starks - PG - 4 Stars - Committed to Georgetown
Daryl Traynham - PG - 3 Stars - Uncommitted
Corey Spence
Brandon Coleman
Damien Lee
Brendan McFall